DeLoss Dodds announced his retirement as the athletics director of Texas. / Erich Schlegel, Getty Images

by George Schroeder, USA TODAY Sports

by George Schroeder, USA TODAY Sports

Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds will announce Tuesday afternoon he is stepping down, according to the Austin American-Statesman and Dallas Morning News. The outlets, citing anonymous persons, reported Dodds, 76, who has worked at Texas for 32 years, will move into a consultant's role August 31, 2014.

Dodds and Texas officials denied a similar report less than three weeks ago by Orangebloods.com. The website reported he would step down by the end of the calendar year.

"I've not made any plans to retire at any time," Dodds told the Dallas Morning News in denying the Orangebloods.com report. "When I do, I'll give you guys plenty of notice."

Two Texas officials declined to confirm the reports to USA TODAY Sports. But according to the Austin American-Statesman report, the announcement had been planned for today but was postponed because of the death of former Texas quarterback James Street.

Dodds' decision could pave the way for a successor to make important personnel changes, if necessary, in the nation's wealthiest athletic department (Texas' annual budget is $163 million). Mack Brown's future as the Longhorns' football coach appears shaky; the Austin American-Statesman reported Texas president Bill Powers wanted to hire Dodds' replacement by Dec. 1. Texas is currently 2-2. The Longhorns' final regular-season football game is Dec. 7 at Baylor.

While denying the Orangebloods.com report two weeks ago, Dodds also told the Dallas Morning News, "My goal would be to leave things in good shape. We need to win some football games. I'm responsible for that."

Orangebloods.com reported Dodds would move into a "significant half-time" position as a consultant. He is under contract through 2015 and is paid $1.1 million annually.

Dodds hired Brown, who led a renaissance of Texas football that included a national championship and an appearance in the 2010 BCS championship game. But since then, the Longhorns are 24-18 and 12-15 in Big 12 play. Brown, 62, is also 5-9 against rival Oklahoma. Dodds also hired baseball coach Augie Garrido, who led Texas to two national championships. But the program has slipped, too.

The Austin American-Statesman reported Texas might have interest in West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck and Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby. Bowlsby, who was previously the athletic director at Stanford, Iowa and Northern Iowa. He has denied any interest in the Texas job, and the idea seems farfetched, given his current position.

George Schroeder, a national college football reporter for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @GeorgeSchroeder.